CVE-2021-39868Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Storage-quota bypass via trusted import metadata

Published Oct 4, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Improper input validation in affected GitLab CE/EE releases allows remote authenticated users to create unlimited-size repositories. Project import deserializes repository_size_limit from attacker-modified project.json instead of excluding it and inheriting the configured limit. Remote authenticated users with project export and import access can set the value to 0 in 8.12 through 14.1.6, 14.2.0 through 14.2.4, and 14.3.0, bypassing storage quotas.

CVSS severity4.3
Medium
EPSS probability0.90%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper input validation in affected GitLab CE/EE releases allows remote authenticated users to create unlimited-size repositories. Project import deserializes repository_size_limit from attacker-modified project.json instead of excluding it and inheriting the configured limit. Remote authenticated users with project export and import access can set the value to 0 in 8.12 through 14.1.6, 14.2.0 through 14.2.4, and 14.3.0, bypassing storage quotas.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-39868
Published
Oct 4, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
GitLab
Product
GitLab
Classifications
CWE-732, T1565.001
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 4, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=>=14.2, <14.2.5
  2. Affected versionversion=>=14.3, <14.3.1
  3. Affected versionversion=>=8.12, <14.1.7

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

GitLab · GitLabversion=>=14.2, <14.2.5; version=>=14.3, <14.3.1; version=>=8.12, <14.1.7

Published CVSS scores

4.3GitLab Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
4.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:N/I:P/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-732Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource
T1565.001Stored Data Manipulation

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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